WHITTIER – The city has hired a law firm as it prepares for a potential legal battle with the state over putting a prison hospital on the site of the former Fred C. Nelles Youth Correctional Facility.

The 73-acre Nelles site is one of eight properties being considered by the state for use as a prison hospital. It was shuttered in 2004 after it was open for 113 years.

“They’re getting us ready for the fight if the fight comes,” Councilman Joe Vinatieri said of the firm of Meyers, Nave, Riback, Silver and Wilson that was hired this week by the City Council, which agreed to spend up to $200,000.

“It’s a lot of money for attorneys, but that gives you a good idea of what we’re up against,” Vinatieri said.

The law firm would advise the city on environmental law, such as the development of a report on the effect of a prison hospital on the community.

“We know there are obvious issues our community has about the siting of a correctional facility there,” City Manager Steve Helvey said.

“We want to make sure those issues are articulated appropriately by the state when they do their (environmental assessment).”

Clark Kelso, who was placed by the federal courts in charge of prison health care, has said he will comply with state environmental laws.

But the city will push for as much environmental review as it can get, Helvey said.

“To reinstitute a correctional facility is a significant change and (Nelles) is adjacent to schools, residents, a hospital and shopping,” he said.

This law firm understands environmental law and can advise the city on how to proceed should Kelso select Nelles as a site for a prison hospital, Helvey said.

Councilman Bob Henderson, who with Vinatieri and City Attorney Dick Jones interviewed Amrit Kulkarni and Deborah Fox of the firm, said he is impressed.

“We’re determined to have the best representation we can,” Henderson said.

Mike Sprague started at the Whittier Daily News in April 1984. Since then, Sprague has covered every city in the Whittier Daily News circulation area, as well as political and water issues. Sprague received a bachelor's degree in communications and a master's degree in political science, both from Cal State Fullerton.